By Sarah Rayner
Altus, Oklahoma –
An Altus official says he's asked state fish and wildlife officials to conduct water testing after the deaths of numerous fish at the city's reservoir.
Interim City Administrator Bob Stephenson told the Lawton Constitution for Thursday's editions the fish kill occurred earlier this week but fish are no longer dying. Stephenson says officials identified the fish that died as shad.
He says the deaths could be the result of a thermal inversion in the reservoir. When the weather changes, cooler water at the top of the reservoir will sink and cause warmer water underneath to rise, which can change oxygen levels in the water.
Stephenson says the city's primary source of water, the Tom Steed reservoir, hasn't been affected.